Chicago’s 111th Christmas Tree Lighting Ceremony Set for Friday in Millennium Park

The 111th Chicago Christmas tree lighting ceremony is scheduled to take place on Friday, November 22, in Millennium Park. The event will feature a 53-foot Colorado Blue Spruce, donated by the Holden-Shaddick family of Logan Square. This tree, which was planted 50 years ago by the previous owner of the property, will be adorned with thousands of lights and will remain illuminated until January 8, 2025.

The ceremony will begin with a pre-show at 5 p.m., followed by the main event at 6 p.m. CBS Chicago‘s Joe Donlon and Irika Sargent will host the event, which will also be streamed live on the CBS Chicago website, app, and YouTube channel.

Several streets in the area will be closed to accommodate the event. These include Washington Street from Wabash to Michigan Avenue, Madison from Wabash to Michigan Avenue, Michigan Avenue from Randolph to Monroe, and Garland from Randolph to Monroe. The Chicago Cultural Center and Design Museum of Chicago will also be closed to the public starting at 3 p.m..

Following the tree lighting ceremony, attendees can continue their holiday festivities by visiting the Christkindlmarket, which opens on the same day in Daley Plaza and RiverEdge Park in Aurora. The market will offer a variety of food, drinks, gifts, and other items, creating a festive atmosphere with roasted nuts, fresh pretzels, bratwurst, and hot spiced wine.

In addition to the tree lighting and Christkindlmarket, the weekend will also feature the 33rd annual Wintrust Magnificent Mile Lights Festival on Saturday, November 23. This event includes a parade along North Michigan Avenue, featuring one million lights, Disney and Pixar characters, and a fireworks display.